Flashlight



Feb. 14, 1939. H. e. GRAUBNER FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 21, 1935 INVENTOR HERMAN G.GRAUBNER ATRE Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE FLASHLIGHT Application September 21, 1935, Serial No. 41,539

13 Claims.

The invention pertains to flashlights such as those having a tubular casing and more particularly to the construction of certain portions of such flashlights such as the casing and the light projecting end or head.

It has been the general practice heretofore to form the casings of tubular flashlights, or at least the attaching portions, of a relatively thin metal and to join the component portions of such flashlight casings by means of interflitting threads. Since the metal has usually been of a thickness less than the depth of the thread desired the threads have been produced by rolling them into the metal, i. e., by deforming the metal into a threaded contour which appears on both the inner and outer surfaces. Such threads, however, have been unsatisfactory since they have been relatively inaccurate in size and have failed in maintaining the casing portions in accurate relative relation. Also, these threads have been unsatisfactory due to their tendency to' either bind or to fail entirely as a holding means. This shortcoming has been especially noticeable in the joint between flashlight heads and the relatively fragile bezels or lens ringsemployed to retain the reflector and cover glass within the head. Therefore, one of theobjects of this invention is to provide a flashlight with an improved head and lens ring secured together by a joint in which no threads or equivalent bayonet latches are employed.

It has also been the general practice heretofore to provide tubular flashlights with a head having a peripheral contour substantially circular, and the use of this contour has been in fluenced largely by the fact that practically all joints between component casing portions have required relative rotation to effect attachment and,- therefore, another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight with a casing having a non-circular peripheral contour, and to provide the component portions such as the head and lens ring with a detachable joint in which such portions are not relatively rotatable.

The efliciency of modern tubular flashlights is dependent largely upon the axial alinement of the reflector and the lamp bulb, and prior flashlights have been unsatisfactory in this respect since the reflector was often not accuratelypositioned or rigidly secured with respect to the casing. Therefore, another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight in which the reflector is accurately centered within the head r and in which relative movement between thereflector and the head is substantially eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flashlight with a casing and headstructure that is more pleasing in appearance mQre reliable and reflective in operation, more rigid in construction and more accurate with respect to the position of the component parts.

These and other objects and novel features will be more full illustrated by the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is aside view of a flashlight embodying the invention;

Fig. '2 isv a view of the head end of the flashlight shown in Fig. 1 with the bezel omitted to show the form and relative-position of the component parts;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the head :of the flashlight shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line -3w3of Fig. 2 with the bezel in place;

4 is a view of the head .end of a flashlight with the bezel omitted to show the structure of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. .5 is a fragmentary sectional View along line 5+5. of Fig-4- with the bezel included;

Fig.6 is-aview of the head end of a flashlight with a bezel omitted to show another embodimentof the invention; and

.Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view along line .='l.-.l of Fig.6 with the bezel included.

According to .the present invention the improved flashlight may :comprise an outer casing including a head A suitably secured to a central body B. This casing may contain a conventional battery suitably connected with a conventional' lamp bulb which may be disposed in operative relation with a reflector suitably secured .within the head A. The light projecting end of the flashlight may be closed by a suitable cover glass and the joint between the outer edge of the cover glass and the forward end of the head may beclosed by a suitable bezel or lens ring securedwto the head, which may be provided'with a suitable seat or support for the reflector. Theperiphery of the .-casing and also the joint between the head and the lens ring may :haveajcontour other than round or nonci-rcular, andthe-periphery of the reflector and cover Elass'may be circular in contour. Also, the outer contour-of the reflector seat may conform in shape with the head and the inner contour mayconform in shape with the reflector. Likewisathe outer contour of the lens ring may conform in shape with the head and the inner contour may be substantialy circular to conform with the-reflectingsurface of the reflector. Furthermore, the :lens ring is tightly but only f-rictionallysecured to the head so that it may be separable therefrom. in an axial direction only, andthe reflector seat may be rigidly secured to the headto=-avoid any possibility of misalinementibetween the reflector and the lamp bulb which may be carried by the casing. The various component ,parts of the flashlight, and especially the head, may be of suitable relatively thin yieldable resilient material, such as metal, fiber or the like, that may be deformed by the application of external pressure for detaching the cover glass, reflector, etc. and will return to its original shape when the pressure is removed.

Since this important mechanical construction does not involve threads for attaching the components parts it possesses the additional advantage that the exterior of the flashlight may be provided with any desirable ornamental configurations and with any appropriate peripheral contour without having these ornamental surfaces broken by circular threaded portions of the flashlight casing.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the head A may flare outwardly adjacent the light projecting end. which may be provided with a non-circular tubular portion l0, and the outer end of the flared portion may provide an interior shoulder 36 adjacent the tubular portion I 0 upon which a combined reflector and support may be seated.

The head A may be provided with a reflector 38 in which the forward end is provided with a reversely turned cylindrical outer rim 40 forming a support fitting within the tubular portion l0 and seated upon the shoulder 36, and the outer end of the head A may be closed by a suitable cover glass 42 which may be provided with a beveled outer edge 44. This cover glass may be seated directly upon the reflector 38 although a somewhat compressible washer 46 is preferred between the inner face of the cover glass and a forward portion of the reflector such as the outer margin of the reflector outside of the light projecting area or the bend between the reflector 38 and the rim 40. The reflector and cover glass may be secured in position by providing the head A with a plurality of ears 48 which may extend upwardly and inwardly from the outer end of the tubular portion ID at points along the periphery where the non-circular head lies closely adjacent the cover glass. As shown in Fig. 2 this position may lie substantially midway between each pair of ornamental fluted portions 50. To complete the assembly and close the opening around the cover glass 42 the head A may be provided with a friotionally held or fitting bezel 26 having an outer tubular non-circular por' tion or margin 28 closely fitting and conforming in shape with the outer surface of the tubular portion I0 of head A upon which it may be secured by frictional engagement, and an inturned inwardly extending flange 30 having an inner margin overlying the cover glass 24 and conforming in contour with the outer portion 40 of the reflector. The reflector and cover glass are rigidly secured within the head independent of the bezel or lens ring which serves chiefly to stiffen or support the outer end of the head A and prevent deformation by exterior pressure.

To disassemble this'construction the frictionally secured bezel 26 may be disengaged by moving it in an axial direction away from the head A, and then by inwardly compressing the outside of head A at opposite points generally indicated by the flutes 50, the contour of the head may be elongated sufficiently to disengage the ears 48 from the cover glass 42 so that the latter may be removed from the head. After the cover glass has been removed the washer 46 and the reflector 38 may be readily removed in the usual manner.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a reflector 12, a cover glass 62, a compression washer 46, and a bezel 66 may be employed, and the tubular portion ID of the head A may be provided with inwardly extending supports 52, each provided with a slot 54, the slots being arranged in circumferential alignment. The reflector l2, compression washer 46, and cover glass 62 may 'be secured together as a unit by a suitable cage or encircling resilient member 10 having a tubular body 12 closely encircling the periphery of the reflector, compression washer, and cover glass,

an inwardly extending flange l4 underlying the outer rim 22 of the reflector and a similar flange l6 overlying the outer margin of the cover glass. This cage 10 may be supported within the head A by providing it with a suitable number of outturned ears 18 in circumferential alinement around the cage with each ear secured in the slot 54 of one of the supports 52. The cage 70 may be of resilient metal and it may be provided with a suitable interruption or opening so that it may be sprung outwardly or enlarged by separating the ends adjacent the opening to disengage it from the cover glass and reflector.

To dismantle this construction the bezel 66 may be removed in the manner described in connection with the preceding embodiment, and then suitable pressure may be applied radially inwardly to the outer end of the head A at opposite points, such as at the fluted portions 50, to press outwardly radially and disengage the supports 52 from the ears 18 of the cage 10. After the cage has been removed from the head it may be separated from the cover glass and reflector in the manner already described.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and '7 the compression washer 46 may be omitted and the head A may be provided with a suitable number of ears 92 turned inwardly so that they are located at an angle with respect to the axis of the head. These ears 92 do not overlie the cover glass 62 and, therefore, to secure the cover glass and reflector within the head A a suitable spring ring 94 may be provided of such size that the outer edge engages the inner angular surface of ears 92 and the inner portion overlies the outer margin of the cover glass 62. To disassemble this construction the bezel 66 may be removed in the manner already described and then the spring ring 94 may be compressed and disengaged from the ears 92 thereby releasing the cover glass and reflector.

As shown by the above embodiments of the invention applicant has provided an improved construction for the head end of flashlights in which no objectionable threads are employed for connecting the various elements, a construction in which the elements are rigidly secured in more accurate alinement than heretofore, and also a construction which is adapted for flashlight casings having a non-circular peripheral contour, so that they may be provided with contours and configurations for improving their appearance not possible with the circular constructions known heretofore.

The various examples given exemplify the preferred embodiments of the invention and it is to be understood that the component parts may be of different size and shape and in a different relative position without departing from the principles of the invention, and that other suitable and equivalent materials may be employed in place of those specified.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight; a casing; a head; a reflector seated within said head; a cover glass seated upon said reflector; said reflector and cover glass each having a circular periphery; said head having a non-circular periphery with portions of said noncircular periphery being disposed in close proximity to the peripheries of said reflector and cover glass and other portions of said non-circular periphery being relatively spaced from the peripheries of said reflector and cover glass; means extending inwardly from the portions of said non-circular periphery which are disposed in close proximity to the peripheries of said reflector and cover glass for retaining said reflector, cover glass and head in assembled relation; said means being movable outwardly from retaining position when radial pressure is applied to the portions of said non-circular periphery which are relatively spaced from the peripheries of said reflector and cover glass so that said reflector, cover glass and head may be disassembled.

2. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1, including a bezel having a periphery conforming to the periphery of said head and slidably secured thereto, and a flange extending inwardly from said periphery and overlapping the outer margin of said cover glass.

3. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, in which said means comprises a plurality of ears extending outwardly from the outer end of said head and overlying the outer margin of said cover glass.

4. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, in which said casing includes a head provided with an interior shoulder; said means comprises a plurality of inwardly turned ears at the outer end of said head; said reflector is provided with a reversely turned cylindrical rim seated upon said shoulder; a compression washer is seated upon the outer margin of said reflector; said cover glass is seated upon said compression washer and provided with a bevelled edge in engagement with said ears; and a bezel is secured upon said head and has an inner margin overlying the outer edge of said cover glass and an outer margin releasably secured to said head.

5. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, in which said means comprises a plurality of projections extending inwardly from the inner surface of said head and provided with respective slots disposed in circumferential alinement, and said reflector is provided with an outer radial rim secured in said slots.

6. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, including a cage secured to the outer margins of said cover glass and said reflector so that they may be removed from said head as a. unit.

7. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, in which said means comprises a plurality of inturned ears at the outer end of said head, and a suitable spring ring is releasably secured between said ears and said cover glass.

8. A flashlight as defined by claim 1, in which said reflector is provided with an outer rim in engagement with the periphery of said cover glass for maintaining axial alinement between said cover glass and said head.

9. In a flashlight; a casing; a head, said head having a non-circular periphery, adjacent sections of said periphery being spaced respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly of the median circumferential line of said periphery; said radially inwardly spaced portions being provided with inwardly extending projections having slots therein in circumferential alinement; a circular reflector disposed in said head; a cover glass resting on said reflector; a circular cage enclosing the outer margins of said reflector and cover glass and provided with a plurality of outwardly extending ears respectively secured in said slots; said ears being disengageable from said slots by inward movement of the outwardly spaced portions of said periphery to thereby cause outward movement of the inwardly spaced portions of said periphery.

10. In a flashlight; a casing comprising a head provided with a plurality of inturned ears at the outer end thereof and with an interior shoulder adjacent said ears; a support secured within said head upon said shoulder; a reflector seated upon said support and provided with an outer cylindrical rim; a cover glass seated upon said reflector within said rim; a spring ring releasably secured between the inner surface of said ears and the upper surface of said cover glass; the periphery of said head being provided with adjacent portions spaced respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly of the median, circumferential line of said periphery, whereby said ears are disengageable from said spring ring by inward movement of the outwardly spaced portions of said head periphery to thereby cause the inwardly spaced portions of said head periphery to move outwardly; and a bezel having an inner margin in engagement with the upper surface of said cover glass and an outer margin conforming in shape with and releasably secured to the outer surface of said head.

'11. In a flashlight, the combination of a casing having a tubular head of non-circular crosssection formed of yieldable and resilient material; the periphery of said head comprising adjacent portions spaced respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly of the median circumferential line of said periphery; a reflector within said head and provided with a portion having a circular periphery disposed in close proximity to the inwardly spaced portions of said head periphery; and means secured to the inwardly spaced portions of said head periphery for securing said reflector within said head; said securing means being operable to release said reflector by inward movement of the outwardly spaced portions of said head periphery to thereby cause the inwardly spaced portions of said head periphery to move outwardly.

12. A flashlight as defined by claim 11, including a cover glass adjacent the front end of said reflector; and a non-circular bezel conforming to and frictionally fitting said head and having a portion bearing against said cover glass.

13. In a flashlight, the combination of a casing having a tubular head having a non-circular periphery and formed of yieldable and resilient material; a reflector within said head and provided with a portion having a circular periphery disposed opposite the non-circular periphery of said head, certain portions of the head periphery being disposed close to said reflector periphery and other portions are of the head periphery being more widely spaced from said reflector periphery; and means whereby said head and said reflector are normally interlocked to secure said reflector within said head, said interlocking means being operable to release said reflector by pressing inwardly the portions of the head periphery which are more widely spaced from the reflector periphery.

HERMAN G. GRAU'BNER. 

